Method for altering permanent press garments by disrupting cross-linkages in the wet state and reforming them in the dry state

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION TO A PROCESS FOR ALTERING GARMENTS, AND MORE PARTICULARLY TO A PROCESS FOR ALTERING CREASED GARMENTS MADE FROM A PERMANENT PRESS FABRIC WHEREIN AN UNDESIRED CREASE MAY BE REMOVED AND A NEW CREASE MADE IN THE FABRIC AFTER ALTERING THE GARMENT.

March 9, 1971 J DE o c 3,568,343

METHOD FOR ALTERING PERMANENT PRESS GARMENTS BY DISRUPTING A CROSS'LINKAGES IN THE WET STATE AND REFORMING THEM IN THE DRY STATE Original Filed Oct. 12, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

APPLY AQUEOUS CATALYTIC SOLUTION TO SELECTED AREA OF PERMANENT PRESS FABRIC PLACE MOISTENED SELECTED AREA IN MOISTURE-PROOF ENVELOPE APPLY HEAT TO SUPERHEAT STEAM IN ENVELOPE AND PRES SURE TO ORIENT FIBERS DRY FABRIC AND HEAT-CURE RESIN INVENTOR JAMES R. DeLOACH ATTORNEY March 9], 1971 J. R- DE LOACH METHOD FOR ALTERTNG PERMANENT PRESS GARMENTS BY DISRUPTING CROSS-LINKAGES IN THE WET STATE AND REFORMING THEM IN THE DRY STATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed Oct. '12, 1966 FIG. 3

INVENTOR JAMES R. DeLOACH ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,568,343 METHOD FOR AL'I'ERING PERMANENT PRESS GARMENTS BY DISRUPTING CROSS-LINKAGES IN THE WET STATE AND REFORMING THEM IN THE DRY STATE James R. De Loach, Warrenville, S.C., assignor to Graniteville Company, Graniteville, S.C. Original application Oct. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 586,199, now Patent No. 3,453,747, dated July 8, 1969. Divided and this application Oct. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 771,499 Int. Cl. D06f; D06m 1/18, N24 US. Cl. 38144 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a process for altering garments, and more particularly to a process for altering creased garments made from a permanent press fabric wherein an undesired crease may be removed and a new crease made in the fabric after altering the garment.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 586,199 filed Oct. 12, 1966, now US. Pat. 3,453,747 entitled Apparatus for Altering Permanent Press Garments.

In recent years, various methods have been developed for the resin tretament and subsequent curing of fabrics for imparting a wrinkle-resistant quality to garments during manufacture, and at the same time, applying permanent creases at the proper positions. For example, Pat. No. 2,974,432 discloses that a fabric can be impregnated with urea formaldehyde resin before cutting and sewing a garment which is then desirably creased and pressed before curing the resin with heat in a dry atmosphere. The term permanent press as used herein refers to garments which have been so treated.

Permanent press garments present a problem when alterations are attempted because the permanently set crease is unsightly when the garment is altered in such a manner as to locate the crease in an undesired location. Moreover, it is difficult, if not impossible, to put a new crease in the permanent press fabric after the garment has been altered. Consequently, in the case of permanent press trousers, trouser manufacturers have had to abandon the prior practice of selling uncuffed trousers to the retailer who then applied the cuffs according to the customers requirements. This prior practice was advantageous to the manufacturer because it eliminated the costly step of cufiing the trousers. It was also advantageous to the retailer because it reduced the size of his inventory, and to the customer because the length of the trousers were made to his specifications.

Now, in the case of permanent press trousers, the garment is culfed at the time of manufacture before it is pressed and the resin impregnated fabric cured to permanently crease the garment. Consequently, the retailer must purchase trousers in a variety of lengths for each Waist size. Obviously, this is unsatisfactory to the manufacturer, the retailer, and the consumer for the reasons noted above.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel method and means for removing creases from permanent press garments and for permanently recreasing the garment at the same or different locations as desired.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel method and means of depolymerizing the resin in a selected portion of a permanent press fabric after it has been resin-treated and cured.

It is a further object of this invention to providea novel method and means of breaking the cross-links and/ or depolymerizing the. resin in only a selected portion of a permanent press fabric after it has been resin treated and cured, and thereafter smoothing or creasing said selected portion as desired, and finally curing the resin in said selected portion to impart a permanent press finish thereto.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the method and means described which can be carried out with readily available materials and relatively unskilled personnel in an extremely short time.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an aqueous solution which acts as a catalyst in the curing or polymerization of thermo-setting resins used in permanent press finishes, which aqueous solution may be lightly sprayed on selected portions of a permanent press fabric which has been resin treated and cured, confining said selected portion of the fabric in a substantially moisture impervious container, heating the container under pressure to generate steam from the moisture in the aqueous solution sprayed on said selected portion, and thereafter drying said selected portion under pressure to repolymerize the resin in said selected portion.

The catalyst may be packaged in any suitable container as for spray application to the selected portion of a permanent press fabric, and a conventional press or iron of the type conventionally used by tailors and launderers may be used to apply the required heat and pressure to the selected portion of the fabric. A simple inexpensive envelope or pouch of moisture impervious material may be used to enclose the selected area of the fabric after it has been treated with the aqueous solution and while it is subjected to heat and pressure.

As will be apparent from the foregoing stated objects, the invention is particularly adapted for use by tailors and others engaged in the alteration of garments. By means of the present invention those engaged in the manufacture and sale of mens trousers can postpone the cuffing of permanent press trousers until they have been fitted to the customer, as has long been the case with trousers made from other fabrics.

While the invention is described in connection with the alteration of a pair of mens trousers to fit cuffs on them, it is to !be understood that the utility of the invention is not limited to altering trousers, but may be employed whenever it is desired to remove a crease or form a new permanent crease in fabric which has been resin treated and cured to impart to it a permanent press finish.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a flow diagram outlining the steps of the process;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of mens trousers made from permanent press fabric;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the moisture-proof impermeable envelope;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the envelope taken substantially along the line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the envelope containing a portion of the cuffed garment ready for insertion into a heated press;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a heated press in which is positioned an impermeable envelope containing several cuffed garments in position for pressing; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a heated press in which a portion of the moisture impermeable envelope is fixed to each plate of the press and movable therewith.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a flow diagram showing the process for breaking down and regenerating the cross-links in the resin of a permanent press fabric that has been previously resin treated and cured as disclosed, for example, in Pat. No. 2,974,432.

3 EXAMPLE I One embodiment of the invention employs a high percentage of any catalytic agent such as zinc chloride, magnesium chloride, or zinc nitrate which speeds, in a dry atmosphere, the polymerization of the thermosetting resins used in permanent press finishes.

A suitable buffering agent such as ammonium chloride is recommended because it is less strongly acid than the acid salt and raises the pH of the mixture. The amount of tendering which would result from the action of the acid salt by itself is thereby reduced without at the same time reducing the concentration of acid below the amount needed for breaking down the resin cross-links. Satisfac tory results have been obtained with a spraying solution consisting of approximately fifty percent (50%) zinc chloride and ten percent ammonium chloride in water.

EXAMPLE II Satisfactory results have also been obtained with a lower percentage of the catalytic agent, such as zinc chloride, magnesium chloride or zinc nitrate by employing an organic acid such as citric acid. While any other desired organic acid may be used within the spirit of the invention, such as formic acid or acetic acid, citric acid is preferred because of its low toxicity and because it doesnt deteriorate the fabric. In practice, a spraying solution comprising eight percent (8%) zinc chloride and ten percent (10%) citric acid in water has been found to give comparable results in about the same time as the solution of Example I. In this instance, the citric acid is a stronger acid than the zinc chloride and lowers the pH of the mixture.

The aqueous solutions of both of the foregoing exam ples give equally satisfactory results when used in accordance with the invention as herein described, but the solution of Example II may be preferable because of the toxicity present when using the percentage of zinc chloride required in Example I. The catalysts and acids listed above are exemplary only and other suitable catalysts and acids may be satisfactorily employed in practicing the invention.

The first step in the process is to lightly spray a selected area of the permanent press fabric, such as the edges of new cuffs, and the undesirable crease of an old cuff with an aqueous catalytic solution as described.

The next step consists of placing the cuff in a moistureproof, impermeable envelope such as that shown in FIG. 2. The envelope 10 seals the cuff within the edges 12, so

that the cuif is, in effect, confined in an atmosphere of 4 super-heated steam.

The envelope with the cuff inside is placed between the plates of a heated press. During this step, theaqueous solution which has been sprayed on the fabric becomes superheated steam above its boiling point. The catalytic agent has, in the concentration of Example I, an opposite effect in a super-heated moist atmosphere to that which it has in a dry atmosphere; that is, it breaks the cross-links and/or depolymerizes the resin in the fabric thus allowing the removal of old creases and the formation of new ones. The citric acid in the concentration of Example II breaks down the resin cross-links in an atmosphere of super-heated steam and the lesser concentration of zinc chloride is sufficient to regenerate the cross-links under dry heat.

The amount of time required for the heating or depolymerization operation will vary depending on the temperature and pressure in the press. For example, a press exerting a pressure of approximately ten to fifteen pounds per square inch and a temperature of 310 F. requires approximately thirty seconds to raise the aqueous solution to the' desired temperature of 240 F. However, some presses currently in use exert pressures up to eighty pounds per square inch and temperatures up to 500 F. This would considerably reduce the time required in the press.

The substantially impermeable envelope makes it possible to provide the necessary high temperature while still retaining the moisture required to accomplish the breakdown of the cross-links without degradation of the selected area of the fabric.

The last step consists of curing the resin in the fabric as by drying the fabric at a temperature about 300 F. under ten pounds of pressure for about thirty seconds, during which time the moisture is removed and the cat alyst, in a dry atmosphere, helps the cross-links to reform and/or repolymerization of the resin to take place, setting the new crease. The curing time can be reduced by increasing the temperature and pressure. The drying operation may occur either in the envelope after opening the envelope sufiiciently to allow escape of the moisture vapor, or upon removal of the fabric from the envelope and drying in a press or with a hand iron.

FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate the use of the impermeable envelope 10 in altering a permanent press garment such as cuffing'a pair of trousers 16. As shown by FIG. 3, the envelope 10 is basically a rectangular sheet 14 of moisture impervious material such as a rubberized fa'bric having a ridge 12 of resilient moisture impervious material secured around the edges of one side. The sheet 14 is then folded along one axis into a V-shaped configuration as shown best in FIG. 3. One of the cuffed legs 18 of the garment 16 is then inserted in the envelope 10 as shown in FIG. 5. The resilient edges 12 then are pressed together by the action of the plates of the heated press and form a moisture-proof chamber for the cuffed edge. As stated before the soultion is heated under pressure by the press to become super-heated steam, and the impermeable envelope prevents the moisture from escaping.

Several cufi's 24 may be pressed at once in a modified form of envelope 22 within a press 20 as shown in FIG. 6. A platform 26 is desirably positioned in front of the press 20 to hold the upper parts of the garments.

In the modified form of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 7, part of the impermeable envelope 34 is attached to the upper movable press plate 30 and part is attached to the lower base plate 32. Thus, the envelope is not removed after each pressing operation; only the garment is removed.

While only several embodiments of the invention have been described, these examples are merely illustrative of the invention and are not to be considered as a limitation thereof. It is intended that the appended claims 'be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance of the present invention made over the prior art.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A process of treating the resin in a selected area of a permanent press fabric after the fabric has been resintreated, dried, pressed, and heat cured comprising:

(a) applying to a selected area of the resin treated permanent press fabric an aqueous deploymerizing solution including a catalyst which normally aid in forming cross-links in the resin during dry heat curing of the resin;

(b) confining said selected area of resin treated permanent press fabric in a substantially moisture impervious container;

(c) applying heat to said container to form an atmosphere of super heated steam from the moisture in the aqueous solution with which said fabric has been impregnated;

(d) maintaining said fabric in contact with said atmosphere of super heated steam for a sutficient length of time to break the cross-links in said area resulting in the elimination of the permanent press finish in said selected area;

(e) drying said fabric;

(f) recuring said selected area of resin treated fabric in a dry atmosphere to reestablish the cross-link and provide a permanent press finish.

2. The process according to claim 1 in which the selected area of the fabric is heated to a temperature of 240 F. for a period of approximately thirty seconds at a pressure of ten to fifteen pounds per square inch to break cross-links.

3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the drying and curing step is carried out at a temperature of at least 300 F. and a pressure of at least ten pounds per square inch for at least thirty seconds while said fabric is still in said moisture-proof container and said container is so situated that the moisture can escape therefrom.

4. The process according to claim 1 in which said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc nitrate, and magnesium chloride.

5. The process according to claim 4 in which the aqueous solution comprises eight percent (8%) catalyst and ten percent organic acid.

6. The process according to claim 5 wherein the organic acid is citric acid.

.7. The process according to claim 4 in which said aqueous solution also includes a buffering agent.

8. The process according to claim 7 in which the aqueous solution comprises fifty percent (50%) catalyst and ten percent (10% buffering agent.

9. A process for applying cuffs to a garment having a permanent press finish after the garment has been resintreated, dried, pressed and heat cured comprising:

(a) forming at least one cuff in said garment,

(b) applying to the edge portions of said cuif area of the garment an aqueous deploymerizing solution includnig a catalyst which normally aids in forming cross-links in the resin during heat curing of the resin,

(c) confining said cuff area in a substantially moisture impervious container;

((1) applying heat to said container to form an atmosphere of super heated steam from the moisture in the aqueous solution with which said cuff area has been impregnated;

(e) maintaining said cuff area in contact with said atmosphere of super heated steam while applying mechanical pressure thereto for a sufficient length of time to break the cross-links in said cuff area;

(f) drying said cuff area;

(g) recuring said cuff area of said resin treated garment in a dry atmosphere to reestablish the cross-links and provide a permanent cuff in said garment.

10. A process for altering or changing the location of creases in a garment having a permanent press finish after the garment has been resin-treated, dried, pressed, and heat cured comprising:

(a) forming at least one new fold in said garment;

(b) applying to the areas immediately adjacent to and including both the old crease desired to be removed and said new fold an aqueous deploymerizing solution containing a catalyst which normally aids in forming cross-links in the resin during dry heat curing of the resin;

(c) confining said garment areas in a substantially moisture impervious container;

(d) applying heat to said container to form an atmosphere of super heated steam from the moisture in the aqueous solution with which said garment areas have been impregnated;

(e) maintaining said garment areas in contact with said atmosphere of super heated steam for a sufficient length of time to break the cross-links in said garment areas;

(f) drying said garment areas;

(g) recuring said areas of said resin treated garment in a dry atmosphere under mechanical pressure to reestablish the cross-links and provide a new permanent crease in said garment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,148,236 9/1964 Nuremberg 38- 144 3,166,765 1/1965 Getchell 318-144 3,268,291 8/1966 Mack et al. 8116.3 3,341,955 9/1967 Pyke et al. 8116 .3 3,372,403 3/1968 Getchell 38144 3,435,463 4/1969 Jay 3 8-144 3,453,757 7/1969 De Loach 38144 GEORGE F. LESMES, Primary Examiner a J. CANNON, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.-R. 

